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Town Board Meeting – December 5th, 2022

The town board meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Mount Hope was held at the Mount Hope Town Hall on December 5, 2022 at 7:30pm with the following present: Supervisor Matthew Howell, Councilman Brian Carey, Councilman Jim Jennings, Councilman Chris Furman, Councilwoman Amanda Davis & Kathleen Myers, Town Clerk
OFFICIALS PRESENT: Highway Supt. Hassenmayer, Attorney D. Bavoso & Deputy Chief Maresca.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Supervisor Howell called the meeting to order at 7:30pm.

MOTION TO ACCEPT PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilwoman Davis that the minutes of the November 21, 2022 be approved as presented. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Jennings, Davis, Furman; carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Building Inspector report or November 2022
2. Orange County Mortgage tax receipts for November 2022

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Councilman Carey thanked everyone involved in the tree lighting & Dean for setting it up.

Councilman Furman: ZBA will meet on January 4, 2023 at 7pm. Highway guys installed new lights at the sewer plant. He thanked them all. Mike Brock updated him that the boxes are built – waiting on a few more parts. We had a DEC inspection and we passed. He thanked all involved for the tree lighting. No football to report. The Mount Hope Chinese Assoc. is having a meeting in Middletown at Mulberry House, 12/8/2022 – 7-9 pm. Lance Davoren, village trustee, is having a sensory friendly photo with Santa on 12/10/2022. He spoke re: the possibility of the Times Herald Record going to one day per week print.

Councilman Jennings: Next village meeting is 12/15/2022 at 7pm. The generator is here and installed last week. He thanked everyone involved for the tree lighting.

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT:
Supt. Hassenmayer did not have a report. Councilman Carey asked how the addition was going. Supt. Hassenmayer stated the floor should be poured on Friday.

POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Deputy Chief Maresca did not have a report. Supervisor Howell inquired about the police call over the weekend. Deputy Chief Maresca stated that there is no info to give yet.

VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:
Trustee Lattimer reported the Patriot Tree lighting is coming up on Wednesday at 6PM. Awesome turnouts for both village and town tree lightings.

Supervisor Howell thanked everyone involved in the tree lighting and movie night. He received a notice that we were given a $6,000 rebate from workmen’s comp for a safe work environment.

MOTION TO RE-APPOINT ALISON MILLER TO THE BOARD OF ASSESSMENT REVIEW:
MOTION offered Councilman Jennings 2nd Councilman Furman to re-appoint Alison Miller to the Board of Assessment Review with term effective 10/01/2022 through 09/30/2027. All in favor: Jennings, Davis, Furman, Carey, Howell; motion carried.

MOTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS:
MOTION offered Councilwoman Davis 2nd Councilman Carey to approve the following bills (Abstracts #47 & #48):
Abstract #47
GENERAL A: #595-598 $ 2,516.91
GENERAL B: #104 $ 68.78
SEWER: #99 $ 1,000.00
ARPA: #9 $ 20,000.00

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Abstract # 48
GENERAL A: #599-624 $ 63,388.95
GENERAL B: #105-113 $ 25,613.08
HIGHWAY: #188-197 $ 46,303.49
SEWER: #100-102 $ 3,112.55
AMERICAN RESCUE: #10 $ 27,475.00.
All in favor: Jennings, Davis, Furman, Carey, Howell; motion carried.

MOTION TO SURPLUS THEN SELL POLICE VEHICLE – 2016 FORD EXPLORER:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Carey to surplus then sell police vehicle 2016 Ford Explorer VIN#: 1FM5K8ARXGGC67946. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Jennings, Furman; carried.

SENIOR CENTER AND YOUTH CENTER RENTALS FEES INCREASE:
Supervisor Howell noted that at the budget meetings there was discussion on raising the rental fees for the senior center and youth center. He suggests raising both $25: senior center will be $190.00 and youth center will be $275.00.

MOTION TO INCREASE RENTAL FEES FOR THE SENIOR CENTER AND YOUTH CENTER:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to raise rental fess accordingly: senior center to $190.00 and youth center to $275.00 to go into effect December 9, 2022. All standing rental will remain at the old price. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Jennings, Furman; carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT:
Mason Hahne (life scout in Troop 1 & senior patrol leader) He is seeking from the board their approval for his Eagle Scout project. The project is to install a 25’ flag pole at the senior center. He and his troop will install it. It will have a halyard kit as well as a solar light to light said flag. Discussion as to exact placement of pole. He will provide a picture. Councilman Carey asked how he is raising money for this. Mr. Hahne: fundraising. Councilman Carey suggested that he ask the VFW for a flag.
Thomas Carey (life scout in Troop 1) He’s a senior at Minisink Valley. He’d like to put up a flag pole in front of the youth center. It would be a 25’ flag pole and a solar light. We’d have to dig a 3’ hole & 30” in diameter. He provided picture to the board. The “X” is to be ignored. Discussion on placement of pole – between 2 bushes. Supt. Hassenmayer asked if these are one-piece poles or sections. T. Carey: sections. Supervisor Howell: suggested for a final location for his flag pole and for him to coordinate that with Dean and for an 8-1-1 to be done before any digging is done.

MOTION TO APPROVE THE EAGLE SCOUTS REQUEST FOR FLAG POLES AT THE SENIOR AND YOUTH CENTERS:
MOTION offered Councilwoman Davis 2nd Councilman Furman to approve the 2 Eagle Scout projects for Mr. Hahne & Mr. Carey at the youth and senior centers for the flagpole installation pending final location at senior center to be set up with the highway department. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Jennings, Furman; carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT CONTINUED:
Brian Lattimer: How are we making out with your engineer for the little league field? Supervisor: our engineer has not been to the site yet to look at it. Soil/perk testing is to be done.
Alison Miller: asked to clarify police for not-for-profits deposits. Supervisor Howell: the refundable deposit is required.
Diane Loeven asked what the 2 new newspapers are. Councilman Furman: Epoch Times and another moving into 2 buildings on Fulton Street.

BOARD COMMENTS:
Councilman Carey spoke re: senior center/youth center internet issue. He asked if Paul could make the cards since he makes them for the officers. Supervisor: that’s a Howard question. Mr. Carey added that he has the tape for the pickle ball court.

MOTION TO ADJOURN MEETING:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Jennings to adjourn the meeting at 7:56pm. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Jennings, Furman; carried.

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 20, 2022 at 7:30pm at Town Hall.

Respectfully submitted, Kathleen A. Myers, RMC, Town Clerk
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Contact

Supervisor:
Paul Rickard
Phone: 845-386-2211
Fax: (845) 386-1100

Town Clerk:
Kathleen Myers
Phone: (845) 386-1460

Address:
1706 Route 211W,
Otisville,
New York 10963

Town Board Meetings:
First and Third Monday of each month, 7:30 p.m.

Planning Board Meetings:
Third Wednesday of each month, 7:00 p.m.

Zoning Board of Appeals Meetings: Meets as needed.

Town Court:

Clerk: Myrna Macintosh
Clerk: Francine Heppes
Phone: (845) 386-5303